How to be the Best Salon Assistant EVER

By Lauren Quick and Anne Moratto

It's increasingly rare for salons not to have assistantship programs in place. Think of it like an internship before you nail your first job; it's a sneak-peek at what you might be doing for the rest of your life and a way to get your foot in the door of a company or, in this case, a salon. An assistant's job is to learn everything he or she needs to know to be successful as a stylist or colorist. Some programs have assistants specialize in style or color while others provide a taste of both; it really depends on the salon.

Assistant programs don't just help future professionals, though. While you're honing your skills in styling, coloring and more, the salon is sizing up its next greatest stylist (if you play your cards right). What better way to employ stylists and colorists than to train them at the salon they'll be working for and make sure their expertise is exactly in line with what is expected of a specific salon's stylists?

Sometimes it can be unclear why an assistantship is worthwhile. Being the "new guy" (or gal) isn't always easy, and you could just do booth rental, right? Well, maybe you could—if you had the money—but you'd be missing a priceless opportunity to learn from the best in the business.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Matthew Morris, owner of Matthew Morris Salon in Denver, Color., views assistants as the next generation of hairdressers in his salon. As such, he wants hardworking individuals and holds to the salon's recruitment policy: "Hire people, train on skill."

"Pretend you're on a first date the whole time," Morris says. "Take the stylist's lead. We want to see your personality, but we don't want to see you run with it like you've been at it for five years."

Morris says it's easy to hire someone to acquire a skill—anyone can do that, really—but training someone to be a good person is another matter. His salon is looking for future professionals who have good hearts, are natural leaders and want to grow with the company, but this criteria is unique to different salons.

Ryan Cabe, salon manager for The Harlot salon in Venice, Calif., says his staff "aura" is a little more laid-back, but they still look for potential assistants who really want to be there.

"We want to see that fire in their eyes," Cabe says.

Similarly, Beth Minardi, renowned colorist, color educator, Joico spokesperson and founder of Minardi Luxury Color Care and Beth Minardi Signature Shades, says she looks first and foremost for someone who has a good head on his/her shoulders.

"I don't even care if they know what they're doing," Minardi says. "I just want them to have a great attitude and know they're not going to get rich the first year they work in Manhattan.

"You're entering an assistant program," Mindardi continues. "There is a hierarchy in the salon, and you're at the bottom of the totem pole and have to work your way up."

Andi Steloff, salon manager at the Sally Hershberger Salon in Los Angeles, considers herself something of a matchmaker. Steloff connects assistants to stylists and colorists in her salon and does all the hiring of assistants. It's her approving nod that might mean an aspiring beauty professional has what it takes to make the grade.

"When I need to staff up, I contact local schools like Paul Mitchell, Aveda, Vidal Sassoon and local colleges to let them know we're looking for people," Steloff says. "I already know my cast of characters—my stylists and my colorists—and I know what personalities will team up well with them.

"Some are old-school and not always polite," Steloff says. "It takes a special personality to respect that and not take it personally. I will bring in a potential assistant to spend a day or two here to see what we're all about and so we can see them, too."

Above all, be passionate about your career path and make sure you're grateful and happy to be where you are. Salons and stylists frequent beauty and cosmetology schools for assistant prospects, and if you're really interested in a specific salon, make sure you keep up with them; if you stay in touch throughout your time in beauty school, you could be top-of-mind for them when you're graduating and they're looking for new talent.

THE PROCESS
Many salons invite the candidate into the salon to shadow for a few days to get a better sense of the culture, environment and clientele.

"Some take 'shadowing' literally, and they are afraid to make a move, but the ones who are proactive and not afraid to get their hands dirty are the ones I want," Steloff says.

At Sally Hershberg Salon, an assistant program lasts approximately two and a half years, during which they take weekly classes in cutting and coloring that are taught by senior staff.

"During their training, we do classes, and sometimes they have to bring in a model for a live demo," Steloff says. "If they show up three times in a row without a model, they will never work here. They can continue to assist, but they won't be in the program that gets them promoted to the floor."

Remember: Many salons believe that if a candidate is struggling to find a model or two each month for a class, it can be reflective of your ability to build up a clientele.

"I always tell assistants that for the next two and half years, they are kind of signing their life away to us," Steloff says. "It's really hard to find coverage on the weekend because we don't have a lot of spare assistants. Our stylists are so busy that they can't make their way without an assistant, so it's a big commitment. I tell our candidates right up front that they are not getting holidays off for the next two to three years because that is our busiest time of year."

A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE
Expect to learn—a lot. Your job isn't meant to be easy, but it is meant to teach you how to be an exemplary stylist or colorist from beginning to end of an appointment. This means you should come out of your experience knowing everything from greeting a client and getting him or her a drink, to moderating a successful consultation, to conducting top-notch services and guaranteeing your client leaves smiling.

Almost all salons have some kind of more formalized education you'll complete as an assistant outside of just shadowing stylists and colorists. The Harlot salon holds classes for assistants every Monday, Cabe says. Stylists choose what kind of classes they want to teach—cut, color, style—to the assistants so they can educate on their expertise.

Morris' salon also has an education regimen in place, and it starts with very basic skills, such as effectively communicating, social media usage, shampooing and a career growth plan. The education phases continue with everything from how to time manage to learning the ins and outs of balayage and color correction, and assistants must complete a test-out quiz at the end of their experience.

Schooling doesn't stop after you pass your state board exam, but you should come out on the other side with everything you need to know to be a successful stylist and get a job!